Everyone has those moments in life.
The burning impulse, the utter need, to reach over and strike someone. To beat them and choke them, to stab them and rend them. To do onto them physically the harm their words have just given you.
For in the end a wound is a wound, whether of the heart, spirit, or flesh, and man seeks revenge for them all.
R’elend sits, hands trembling at his sides as the words come at him like fists.
“So then, the ranking officer, Captain Sasafaru will report back to Ul’dah for debriefing and further orders.†The sunburnt Miqo’te woman shuffles a stack of creased papers, “Lieutenant R’elend, as his second in command will stay and advise us until the next relief, in eighteen moons.â€
She clears her throat and drops the packet of orders onto the desk with all the finality of a headsman’s axe, “These orders come from the Silver Blade Soaring Ridge himself.†Looking to to R’elend and Sasafaru, “Any questions?â€
“Captain N’orsola, the Lieutenant has been here longer than I, a full two years, should he not return instead?†Sasafaru opens his pissy little mouth and speaks, and for a moment, R’elend almost believes he has not been betrayed. The moment soon pases, the Captain had never really been on his side after all, R’elend was a fool to think otherwise. No, this was a game, and he had been outplayed.
The Miqo’te captain shakes her head, “The orders are quite clear, until yesterday there were several other junior officers that would have stayed instead, unfortunately, Lieutenant R’elend, you’re all we have left.â€
R’elend sits, silent, glowering, not trusting his mouth. If he speaks it will be words that would doom him further, if he moves, it will violence. So he waits, anger building like steam in a boiler, waiting for the right outlet to act.
“Yet… could not one of the sergeants stay as well?†The lalafell argues, “They are also experienced, R’elend himself came here as a…â€
The Miqo’te captain cuts him off with the wave of a hand, “I didn’t write the orders, Sasafaru, I’m just delivering them. Highest ranking officer goes back for the debriefing, next in command stays on as liaison.†She gives R’elend a tired smile, “I know you’ve been out here a long time Lieutenant, six years in the desert is more than enough for anyone, but we’ll get you home soon enough, ok?
Sasafaru swallows and nods, not able to meet R’elend’s eyes, “Aye R’elend, I’ll see what I can do back in the capitol as well, get them to move up the schedule for the next relief. Things have been quieter since the Brotherhood of Ash have become involved, filthy beastmen that they are.â€
R’elend takes a deep breath, and holds it, boiler at full capacity, then speaks the first words since the news has been broken. “Such is the life of a Blade, isn’t it?†He stands, saluting, “Captain N’orsola, it will be pleasure working with you.†He waits for the captain to return his salute, before turning to Sasafaru, “And Sasafaru…†He smiles holding out a hand, “Say hello to all the pretty girls in Ul’dah, will you?â€
Sasafaru nods, reluctantly meeting R’elends eyes, and taking his hand in a small shake, before R’elend’s hand clamps down on his like a vice.
Some people thought Lalafells weak, that their childlike stature implied a childlike body. R’elend knew firsthand this was not the case, somehow those little bodies could swing a blade with enough force to lop a leg off the knee, or parry a blow from much larger men.
R’elend knew all this, but he also knew he was stronger. He uses this strength now, squeezing at the fragile bones of the Lalafell’s hand, feeling them shift and grind against one another, tendons creaking and muscles straining. All the while he smiles, a plastered, ominous smile that does not reach his eyes, as he watches Sasafaru try not to react.
He was tough though, for a traitor, and R’elend releases his hand, covered in splotchy red marks, and dots of blood where the Miqo’tes nails had dug in, “Have a safe journey on the morrow.â€
R’elend leaves.
And he plans.
The burning impulse, the utter need, to reach over and strike someone. To beat them and choke them, to stab them and rend them. To do onto them physically the harm their words have just given you.
For in the end a wound is a wound, whether of the heart, spirit, or flesh, and man seeks revenge for them all.
R’elend sits, hands trembling at his sides as the words come at him like fists.
“So then, the ranking officer, Captain Sasafaru will report back to Ul’dah for debriefing and further orders.†The sunburnt Miqo’te woman shuffles a stack of creased papers, “Lieutenant R’elend, as his second in command will stay and advise us until the next relief, in eighteen moons.â€
She clears her throat and drops the packet of orders onto the desk with all the finality of a headsman’s axe, “These orders come from the Silver Blade Soaring Ridge himself.†Looking to to R’elend and Sasafaru, “Any questions?â€
“Captain N’orsola, the Lieutenant has been here longer than I, a full two years, should he not return instead?†Sasafaru opens his pissy little mouth and speaks, and for a moment, R’elend almost believes he has not been betrayed. The moment soon pases, the Captain had never really been on his side after all, R’elend was a fool to think otherwise. No, this was a game, and he had been outplayed.
The Miqo’te captain shakes her head, “The orders are quite clear, until yesterday there were several other junior officers that would have stayed instead, unfortunately, Lieutenant R’elend, you’re all we have left.â€
R’elend sits, silent, glowering, not trusting his mouth. If he speaks it will be words that would doom him further, if he moves, it will violence. So he waits, anger building like steam in a boiler, waiting for the right outlet to act.
“Yet… could not one of the sergeants stay as well?†The lalafell argues, “They are also experienced, R’elend himself came here as a…â€
The Miqo’te captain cuts him off with the wave of a hand, “I didn’t write the orders, Sasafaru, I’m just delivering them. Highest ranking officer goes back for the debriefing, next in command stays on as liaison.†She gives R’elend a tired smile, “I know you’ve been out here a long time Lieutenant, six years in the desert is more than enough for anyone, but we’ll get you home soon enough, ok?
Sasafaru swallows and nods, not able to meet R’elend’s eyes, “Aye R’elend, I’ll see what I can do back in the capitol as well, get them to move up the schedule for the next relief. Things have been quieter since the Brotherhood of Ash have become involved, filthy beastmen that they are.â€
R’elend takes a deep breath, and holds it, boiler at full capacity, then speaks the first words since the news has been broken. “Such is the life of a Blade, isn’t it?†He stands, saluting, “Captain N’orsola, it will be pleasure working with you.†He waits for the captain to return his salute, before turning to Sasafaru, “And Sasafaru…†He smiles holding out a hand, “Say hello to all the pretty girls in Ul’dah, will you?â€
Sasafaru nods, reluctantly meeting R’elends eyes, and taking his hand in a small shake, before R’elend’s hand clamps down on his like a vice.
Some people thought Lalafells weak, that their childlike stature implied a childlike body. R’elend knew firsthand this was not the case, somehow those little bodies could swing a blade with enough force to lop a leg off the knee, or parry a blow from much larger men.
R’elend knew all this, but he also knew he was stronger. He uses this strength now, squeezing at the fragile bones of the Lalafell’s hand, feeling them shift and grind against one another, tendons creaking and muscles straining. All the while he smiles, a plastered, ominous smile that does not reach his eyes, as he watches Sasafaru try not to react.
He was tough though, for a traitor, and R’elend releases his hand, covered in splotchy red marks, and dots of blood where the Miqo’tes nails had dug in, “Have a safe journey on the morrow.â€
R’elend leaves.
And he plans.
